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Sunday, May 8, 2011

The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland, Part 2

As I continued on a bus tour of the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland (part one can be read here) we left the Glens and entered the North Antrim Coast area. (All photos will enlarge if double clicked on)

The bus stopped at the Old Bushmills Distillery in the town of Bushmill. Here we took a short tour and sampled some of the very smooth Irish whiskey. The word "whiskey" comes from the Gaelic language words "uisce beatha," which means "water of life." The Old Bushmills plant is the oldest distillery in the world! It's "Grant to Distill" was officially given in 1608, but it is suspected that whiskey was made here for at least 200 years before that! The Old Bushmills brand is a blend from a single malt and a single grain. I had visited the distillery once before with my husband --you can see that visit on this link. I did not partake in the sampling of any whiskey this time as I wanted to keep my senses for what was ahead.

We stopped again for a view of the mystical looking ruins ofDunluce Castle. The castle stands on a 100 ft high basalt cliff with a sea cave running underneath it.

Dunluce Castle has a rich and varied history, connected with such names as Richard de Burgh, Sorley Boy MacDonnell, and Sir John Perrott, running up to its last occupant, Randall MacDonnell, who was the second Earl of Antrim.

Legend has it that in the early 1600's the castle's kitchen broke off and plunged down into the sea. The kitchen staff plummeted to their death upon that fateful day and thereafter the castle's countess refused to live there any longer and moved to a residence inland. After the mid 1700s the deserted castle fell into ruins.

Dunluce Castle was fought over many times in it's past and it is wrapped in myths and legends, one of which is that mermaids lived in caves at its base. On a clear day you can look over the expanse of ocean and see County Donegal. The castle was given to the Northern Ireland government by the Earl of Antrim in 1928, to be preserved as a National Monument.

Now we entered the Causeway Coastline where the sea was rough and misty the day we visited.

We walked along the shore until we reached The Giant's Causeway, which isan area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.

In my opinion it is one of the most remarkable places I've ever seen and I was thrilled to see it again!

As with many places of interest in Ireland, there is a legend behind the Giant's Causeway. Here it is according to the Causeway Coast and Glens website:

"The legend tells us that the Irish Giant Finn McCool had a rival - a Scottish giant named Benandonner. Finn McCool decided to build a causeway to Scotland so that he could challenge his adversary in battle. When the work was completed, the causeway stretched from North Antrim to Staffa.

Bennandonner accepted the invitation to walk over to Ireland and fight for supremacy. As Benandonner appeared over the horizon, Finn McCool realised in horror that he had taken on a rival much bigger than himself. He ran home to his wife, Oonagh. What to do?

The quick thinking Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and made him curl up in an enormous cradle. Benandonner - faced with the sight of this huge ‘child’ took fright at the thought of the size of his father and fled back to Scotland tearing up the causeway in his wake."

The Giant's Causeway is owned and managed by the National Trust and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

I sat on the top of this little hill, on a comfortable stone seat, and filmed this:

I hope you enjoyed seeing and hearing the crashing sea of the Giant's Causeway in my video!

As if this day of touring the Causeway Coastal Route was not magical enough, look at how it ended -- I saw a rainbow in the sky! I can only hope it means I will return again one day to tour again one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Pat, i've often seen pictures of the Giant's Causeway but have never seen so many taken from different viewpoints. It must be a fascinating place to see! I enjoyed seeing the picture of your grandsons on your sidebar - such cute little fellas!

Amazing images and so interesting to read about your trip to Ireland and those mystical ruins.. they look like sandcastles! I'm married to an Irishman..we both enjoyed your images!Thank you for sharing!

Oh, goodness, Pat. So much here. I'm in awe. I've heard about the Giants Causeway ... amazing! Bushmills sounds like a good stop and the castle ... Oh, my! A place of dreams for sure. (I'll carry your bags next time you go!) Happy Monday!

Hi Pat what a wonderful post for today. It is so nice to have a visual tour and description through you, to places I will never get to visit now. I love the legends and stories of that mystical looking land of my ancestors. BlessingsQMM

I want to go here! beautiful photos Pat! When I looked back via your link to your first trip to the distillery I noticed how much your photography has improved in such a short time.also, I LOVE your footage of the causeway.Thanks for sharing this.: )

It is just MAGNIFICENT--what a place, what history! I long to see it for real myself... Just thrilling to all the moments from your trip, Pat--such a treat to see! Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day weekend :o) (((HUGS))

Pat, what a spectacular sight! The castle perched up on the cliff takes my breath away...I'd fear I'd drop off into the sea too, but it must have been a grand to behold in its day. The causeway is amazing, I would love to see it someday!

Your photographs are wonderful, Pat. I felt I was right along with you on your trip. I've never been to Ireland and you have moved it up many spaces on my "must visit" list. What a spectacular coastline!

What a beautiful and interesting country Ireland is Pat. It is on the top of my wishlist to visit. I am so glad I can read a lot about ir here on your blog.Thank you for sharing. THis Saturday we are going on holidays to Spain for three weeks so I am a bit busy this week and late visiting. I will try blogging from there .Have a good week.

What a beautiful and interesting country Ireland is Pat. It is on the top of my wishlist to visit. I am so glad I can read a lot about ir here on your blog.Thank you for sharing. THis Saturday we are going on holidays to Spain for three weeks so I am a bit busy this week and late visiting. I will try blogging from there .Have a good week.

Pat, I have no idea why, but your blog has stopped updating on my sidebar. It says the last time you posted was 5 weeks ago. Do you think that is on my end or your end? Had to track you down to see for myself what was up! Your trip continues to amaze! blessings ~ tanna

I remember reading your first post about the Causeway. It's such a fetching and fey place...so typical of the magic of Ireland. You are lucky to have gone twice...my fingers are crossed for a third time for you as well. After all, God did place the first rainbow in the sky as a promise...you might be right...your Irish rainbow may have been His promise to you.

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About Me

Hello and welcome!
I'm Pat, a lifelong New Yorker who has recently moved to a suburb of Denver in the beautiful state of Colorado, so that I can live close to my children and grandchildren. I look forward to learning many new things about my new "mile high" city and I will share them on my blog.
New York City will always be my second home, and I will also continue to share many posts about it.
My blog's name in Italian means a "Thousand Favorite Flowers." I chose this unusual blog name because researching and writing for my blog, and taking photogrpahs for it, is like another "memory flower" that I am collecting in my bouquet of life.
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